Instagram Two-Factor Authentication with Google Authenticator | Easy Guide 2026, by Tommy on YouTube. 1 min 59 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 59 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Install Google Authenticator from Google Play or the App Store and open it. Sign in with your Google account so your codes are backed up if you change phones.
Open the Instagram app and go to your profile. Tap the menu icon, then Settings and privacy, then Accounts Center.
In Accounts Center, tap Password and security, then Two-factor authentication, and choose your Instagram account.
Select Authentication app as your method. Instagram shows a QR code and a setup key.
In Google Authenticator, tap the plus button, choose Scan QR code, and point your camera at the Instagram QR code. If scanning fails, choose Enter a setup key and type the key Instagram shows.
Google Authenticator now shows a 6-digit Instagram code that refreshes every 30 seconds. Type the current code into Instagram and confirm.
Save the backup codes Instagram gives you in a safe place, such as a password manager or printed sheet.
Log out and back in once to check the code prompt appears and your authenticator code is accepted.
Tips and common mistakes
If the code is rejected, set your phone's date and time to automatic and wait for a fresh code before trying again.
Write down the setup key and backup codes before you finish, so you can still get in if you lose your phone.
Keep Google Authenticator signed in to your Google account so codes restore on a new phone.
Remove SMS as a fallback only after you have tested the authenticator login at least once.
Questions
Do I need mobile signal to log in?
No. Google Authenticator generates codes on the phone itself, so it works offline and in airplane mode.
What if I lose my phone?
Use the backup codes you saved during setup, or restore your codes by signing in to Google Authenticator with your Google account on a new phone.
Can I use a different authenticator app?
Yes. Any app that supports time-based one-time passwords, such as Authy or Microsoft Authenticator, can scan the same QR code.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
